Calling all gamers! Whether you’re a competitive pro or a more casual player, we’ve curated a diverse list of top gaming laptops. Every laptop has been tested by PCWorld members, assessing everything from graphics performance and typing experience to connectivity options and image quality. These rigs offer desktop-level capabilities, and we’ve tested dozens to bring you this roundup of the best gaming laptops available.
Best Overall Gaming Laptop: Alienware m16 R2
Pros:
- Great gaming performance
- Durable
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Dim display
Why We Like the Alienware m16 R2: The Alienware m16 R2 offers excellent performance at a competitive price. With the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, it averaged 144 fps in the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark. It also boasts an impressive battery life of over 11 hours.
Who Should Buy the Alienware m16 R2: This laptop is perfect for gamers who want high performance and long battery life. The 1600p IPS display is spacious at 16 inches with a 240Hz refresh rate for smooth gameplay. While it doesn’t have an OLED panel, the picture quality is still great for gaming.
Alternative Option: If you want a bigger screen, consider the Alienware m18 R2. It offers strong performance with an 18-inch display and a fantastic mechanical keyboard but is quite expensive and heavy. For more firepower, the ROG Zephyrus G16 is a killer OLED-equipped laptop with RTX 4070, 4080, and 4090 options.
Best High-End Gaming Laptop: MSI Titan 18 HX
Pros:
- Tons of connectivity options
- Rugged build quality
- Fantastic mechanical keyboard
- Phenomenal CPU and GPU performance
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Mediocre touchpad
Why We Like the MSI Titan 18 HX: The MSI Titan 18 HX is a powerhouse with an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU, Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, 128GB of RAM, and 4GB of SSD storage. It scored 87 fps in the Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition benchmark at 1080p with Extreme detail.
Who Should Buy the MSI Titan 18 HX: This laptop is ideal for those seeking the ultimate gaming experience. It also offers plenty of connectivity options. However, it’s quite expensive. For a more affordable high-end option, consider the MSI Raider GE78 HX 14VIG.
Best Gaming Laptop Under $1,000: Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition
Pros:
- All-day battery life
- Robust chassis
- Gorgeous 16:10 display
Cons:
- 720p HD camera leaves little to be desired
- Keys feel a little soft
Why We Like the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage: This laptop offers strong graphics performance and long battery life, managing 11.5 hours on a single charge. With the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, it achieved 123 fps in the Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark.
Who Should Buy the Asus TUF Gaming A16 Advantage: Ideal for those on a budget, this laptop offers reliable graphics performance, a spacious keyboard, and long battery life. It’s also a good general-purpose machine, perfect for college students who want to work and play.
Alternative Option: The Lenovo LOQ 15 is another good budget option with a better GPU (RTX 4060) but has poor battery life and limited connectivity options.
Most Portable Gaming Laptop: HP Omen Transcend 14
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight
- Gorgeous OLED screen
- Good performance for the price
Cons:
- Keyboard is a bit mushy
- Annoying bloatware
Why We Like the HP Omen Transcend 14: This lightweight laptop (3.6 pounds) features a stunning OLED display and reliable performance with the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. It achieved 93 fps in the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark.
Who Should Buy the HP Omen Transcend 14: Perfect for gamers on the go, it offers lightweight design and powerful performance. The large 71 watt-hour battery lasts eight and a half hours on a single charge, and the 14-inch 1800p OLED display is beautiful.
Alternative Option: The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a bit lighter and offers a nice OLED screen, but its ho-hum webcam places it behind the HP Omen Transcend 14.
Best Connectivity Features: Acer Predator Helios Neo 16
Pros:
- Reasonably priced
- Fantastic connectivity options, includes two Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Strong CPU and GPU performance for the price
Cons:
- Off-center touchpad is awkward to use
- Audio is too quiet
- Display experienced some stuttering
Why We Like the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16: This laptop shines with its diverse selection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports, three USB-A ports, an HDMI port, Ethernet, a Micro SD card slot, and a 3.5mm combo jack. The Intel Core i7-13700HX CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU ensure reliable performance.
Who Should Buy the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16: Anyone needing numerous connectivity options will find this laptop ideal. Despite being unwieldy on the go, its connectivity and price-to-performance ratio are outstanding.
Alternative Option: The Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 offers similar connectivity features but with a larger screen.
Best Gaming Chromebook: Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Pros:
- Attractive design
- Excellent CPU performance
- Plenty of wired and wireless connectivity
- High-resolution 1600p display
Cons:
- Mediocre keyboard and touchpad
- Disappointing speakers and microphone
- Display falls behind in contrast and color vibrancy
Why We Like the Acer Chromebook 516 GE: This Chromebook offers reliable day-to-day performance and smooth cloud gaming gameplay with its fast, high-resolution display. It includes an Ethernet port for stable internet connections and has a $650 MSRP, making it a good value.
Who Should Buy the Acer Chromebook 516 GE: Perfect for those interested in cloud gaming, this Chromebook provides strong day-to-day performance and smooth gameplay on services like GeForce Now. If you prefer local gaming, consider one of the Windows-based budget options.
Recent Laptop Reviews
- Acer Aspire Vero 16: A solid all-around package with decent performance.
- Lenovo ThinkPad X1 2-in-1: Excellent build quality, nice pen, and impressive 17-hour battery life.
- Acer Chromebook Plus 514: A budget Chromebook with good RAM and storage.
- Lenovo ThinkBook 13x: A good business laptop with a lack of ports being the main drawback.
How We Test Gaming Laptops
The PCWorld team puts each Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks to test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and more. We push the laptops to their limits and compare them against others we’ve tested. Here are the tests we run:
- PCMark 10: Tests how well the laptop handles lighter tasks.
- HandBrake: Measures how long the CPU takes to encode a 30GB file.
- Cinebench: Brief stress test of the CPU cores.
- 3DMark: Checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time.
- Gaming tests: Benchmark using several titles.
- Video rundown test: Gauges battery life by looping a 4K video until the laptop dies.
Buying Guide: How to Pick the Perfect Gaming Laptop
While there’s no perfect gaming laptop, you can find one that fits your budget and lifestyle. Here are key considerations:
- GPU: The most important aspect for gaming performance.
- Storage: Adequate SSD storage is crucial for your game library.
- Display: Look for high refresh rates (120Hz+) for smooth visuals.
FAQ
- Best Screen for a Gaming Laptop?
- Look for IPS or OLED displays. Most gaming laptops now offer faster 120Hz+ panels.
- Best Screen Size for a Gaming Laptop?
- Screen size affects weight. A 17-inch screen might be ideal for dedicated gaming setups.
- Best Screen Resolution for a Gaming Laptop?
- 1920×1080 (1080p) or 2560×1440 (1440p) is more optimal for most gamers.
- IPS vs. TN vs. OLED: What’s the Difference?
- IPS offers better color accuracy, TN has higher refresh rates, and OLED provides stunning contrast ratios and vibrant colors.
- Should a Gaming Laptop Have G-Sync or FreeSync?
- These technologies reduce screen tearing, so they’re beneficial if the laptop includes them.
- Does a Gaming Laptop Need a High Refresh Rate?
- Yes, a higher refresh rate like 120Hz or 144Hz provides a smoother gaming experience.
- Best Gaming Laptop Keyboard?
- Look for one with good key travel and mechanical keys for a better feel.
- Battery Life in a Gaming Laptop: Important?
- While gaming laptops tend to have lower battery life, consider how often you’ll use it unplugged. Otherwise, expect to plug in for longer gaming sessions.